there was/is a sign on hwy #1 just east of 152 that says there will be 10 minute closures overnight for some period of time i forget what the dates were - how much can they get done in 10 minutes? i don't know how frequent they are either

I was just looking over the new (February 2009) alignments of the SFPR and one thing to me does not make sense. With the conversion of the SFPR #99 intersection into an interchange (smart idea) the entire length of the SFPR from the Deltaport Interchange to the Pattullo Bridge in a full freeway except 1 intersection (the Tilbury Intersection). Now I am thinking does it not make sense at this point to convert the Tilbury Intersection into a full interchange? Therefore it would become a full freeway at least between the #17 and the Alex Fraser Bridge. If not we are just going to have another highway 91 72nd intersection problem.

Of course I wish they were building the entire length as a freeway but at the very least it makes the most sense to make this one intersection an interchange.

Nevertheless, west of Grandview, the "core lane" cross-section will still comprise ONLY 6 THRU lanes.

I reckon that the section between 1st Ave and Boundary Road should be 6-lanes + 2 auxilary lanes for merging (extended between both interchanges) and that concept is still not contemplated in the preliminary design.

Currently, in both directions, traffic slows down too quickly (seeing brake lights are common) due to the close proximity of the on/off ramps of the closely spaced interchanges with the concurrent weaving.

That area, west of Grandview, likely comprises the closest spaced array of interchanges/on-off ramps along the entire system. And that always spells potential trouble (ie. potential accidents) unless appropriate design modifications are implemented.

Typically that could involve some stepped-down form of c/d system albeit additional auxilary lanes will probably suffice in this instance.

Hopefully, further design modifications will be made as we've seen with the SFPR.

Aside from the 401s immense size at 18 lanes, how is that a bad thing for a region with less than half the population to have a freeway with less than half the lanes or the 401, but in a similar design manner?

Was just snooping around the Fort McMurray Construction thread. Apparently an area in ALberta called Wood Buffalo is getting a 10 lane highway. Anyone else puzzled at the fact that they're getting one before Metro Vancouver is?

Was just snooping around the Fort McMurray Construction thread. Apparently an area in ALberta called Wood Buffalo is getting a 10 lane highway. Anyone else puzzled at the fact that they're getting one before Metro Vancouver is?

I haven't checked to confirm but Alberta's a lot cheaper to build roads through and they can afford it.

Wood Buffalo is the name of the overall area surrounding Fort Mac. I am surprised to see a 10 lane highway. That seems totally of out whack. Most of the highway up there is just two lanes, just twinning it would make a world of difference.